The Kentucky Derby, a staple of American sports culture, kicks off today, drawing attention to its unique audience profile. Survey data from 81,036 U.S. users reveals intriguing insights into the demographics of those who tune in to this iconic event.
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Among the respondents, 21% indicated they watch the Kentucky Derby. This event attracts a predominantly suburban audience, with 47% of viewers residing in suburban areas, compared to 25% in urban settings and 26% in rural locales. This suburban skew highlights the Derby’s appeal beyond the bustling city centers.
Gender dynamics play a significant role in viewership, with males comprising 54% of the audience, while females account for 46%. This relatively balanced gender distribution sets the Kentucky Derby apart from other sporting events, which often see a more pronounced male dominance.
Age is another defining factor, as the Kentucky Derby draws a notably older crowd. A significant 31% of viewers are aged 65 or older, the highest among the surveyed events. In contrast, only 7% of the audience falls within the 18-24 age bracket, underscoring the event’s traditional appeal to older generations.
Income levels among Kentucky Derby viewers reveal that 4% earn $400,000 or more annually, aligning with other major sporting events like the Daytona 500 and March Madness. This suggests that the Derby attracts a relatively affluent audience, though not significantly more so than its counterparts.
Parental status also provides insight into the Derby’s audience. Among viewers, 39% are parents, while 31% are grandparents. This indicates a strong family-oriented viewership, with the event serving as a multigenerational tradition for many.
As the Kentucky Derby unfolds today, these demographic insights paint a picture of an event that resonates with a diverse yet distinctly suburban and older audience. The data underscores the Derby’s enduring appeal across generations, maintaining its status as a cherished American pastime.
This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights. Our AI content creation tool, DataScribe, supported the article.